GOAL! NHL GameCenter coming TODAY to the PS3

10. Nov, 2010

Next up in the growing number if streaming apps for the PS3 is the NHL’s offering, GameCenter, which was revealed on the PlayStation Blog today. The app itself will cost $10, but is FREE for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Similar to what we’ve experienced with the MLB.tv app (the app is actually developed by the same folks that built the MLB.tv app), you’ll be able to watch any game in its entirety, and pull games up from the rest of the season. Not to be outdone, the NHL is going top shelf with the following additions:

– Every game from the last 3 seasons
– Hundreds of classic games dating all the way back to the 1960’s
– Once the game is complete, the viewer can choose a “compressed game” to view, or even go straight to the highlights
– You can jump straight to any Shot on Goal, or to any goal
– Full stat tracking

Unlike the previously released apps, there is a scaled-down free subscription as well as a paid, full subscription, which will run $169 per year. The free subscription is actually pretty decent, with features such as “post-game highlights, team schedules, standings, player stats and profiles, and the full NHL scoreboard.” Additional services for paid subscriptions will include the “ability to stream live out-of-market games and “select” playoff broadcasts. In addition to the live streams, subscribers will get access to full-length and condensed replays of games 48 hours after they air, no blackouts. Included with membership is access to the NHL Vault, which gives you instant access to full replays of classic NHL games, going as far back to the 1960s.”

This is not only a surprise, but definitely another indication that Sony is serious about making the PS3 a media hub for our homes. From what it looks like, Hockey fans are in for a real treat!

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that NHL GameCenter LIVE™, an online service offering streaming video of live games, is available now on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™), an exclusive offer for PS3 users making it the first and only gaming console to stream live hockey games in High Definition (HD). The combination of the PS3 system’s technical capabilities and NHL’s live HD streaming technology showcases the added power and potential of PS3 as an in-home platform for all types of entertainment: games, movies and TV shows, music, original content, social networks and, of course, live sporting events.

NHL GameCenter LIVE subscribers who enjoy free access to PlayStation®Network and its variety of online content, can now stream live out-of-market regular season and select playoff game broadcasts in HD by downloading the NHL GameCenter application on the PS3 system. In addition to offering live hockey games, NHL GameCenter LIVE also allows subscribers to watch full-length and condensed replays of the current season games they missed (48 hours after they air, no blackouts) and relive NHL history with unlimited access to over 500 classic games from NHL Vault™.

PS3 users that do not have a subscription to NHL GameCenter LIVE will still have access to a wide range of NHL content through the NHL GameCenter application. Fans will have access to features such as post-game highlights, team schedules, standings, player stats and profiles, and full NHL scoreboard.

“PlayStation Network has become an innovative and all-in-one destination for PS3 users to enjoy a comprehensive, customizable on-demand entertainment experience. The addition of streaming NHL content continues the expansion of our library of movies and TV shows, original programming, music, live sports and access to social networks,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president, marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. “Through our partnership with the NHL, we are giving our customers another important choice to access and stream the content they want, when and how they want it.”

“In order to serve our fans, we are continuing to respond to the convergence of technology, media and consumer behavior,” said Perry Cooper, NHL Senior Vice President of Digital Media. “With today’s announcement, we are able to deliver NHL GameCenter LIVE and NHL Vault to Sony’s extensive consumer base and significantly broaden the availability of our products to our fans across the world.”

Customers that have an annual subscription to NHL GameCenter LIVE ($169 U.S.) and a free PlayStation Network account can download the NHL application for a one-time $9.99 (U.S.) fee and access it under the “Video” icon on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu. Additionally, PlayStation®Plus subscribers can download the NHL GameCenter application for free, continuing PlayStation’s goal to deliver exclusive opportunities only made available to PlayStation Plus members.

Additional features of NHL GameCenter LIVE include:

Select from home and away broadcasts available in HD to follow your favorite team(s), even while they are on the road
Follow the action from around the league with game updates in the live scoreboard and plan what games to watch using the full season calendar
Make the most of your viewing experience with live stats, standings, player bios, and post-game highlights for all 2010-11 games
Pause, fast-forward, rewind or simply jump to key points of interest for 2010-11 games using event data indicators displayed on-screen
Easily flip between live video and browsing other NHL GameCenter application features, while the video still plays in the background

Additional features of NHL Vault include:

Classic Games: Relive historic hockey moments from classic games dating back to the 1960s
Condensed Games: Catch up on games you missed with 10-12 minute extended highlights
Game Archive: Watch full length replays of all games since the 2008-2009 season

Playing back highlight for one games for my team, feeds looked SD and also it didn’t give me option to jump to different highlights of the game. I was wondering if this is something you get HD feed with subscription, as well as those markers and if you can filter only to certain types of them.